Lamai Jamieson and Ruby Laidlaw work out when they are next on duty together in the shop

You might say that Lamai Jamieson and Ruby Laidlaw are a pair.

They have known one another for several years and used to work together at the Oxfam shop. They still work together at the Redgate Animal Sanctuary shop in Fosse Road.

Visit the Menphys Shop at 2 Carlisle Street, Leicester, on a Thursday and the chances are that you will find them together there, too.

Ruby and Lamai joined the Menphys team of voluntary workers in 2009. Neither have any regrets. What do they do there? “A bit of everything,” says Ruby. “All sorts of jobs.”

Ruby Laidlaw makes sure the clothes are OK before putting them on sale

Lamai agrees. “We help sort out clothes and hang them in the shop and help customers find things.”

Ruby, who also works at the Menphys shop on Mondays, gives about 14 hours a week to Menphys. Ruby says she is benefiting from learning all the aspects of retail work.

But why do they do it? “I really enjoy meeting people,” says Ruby. Ask Lamai the same question and the answer is almost identical: “I like to help people,” she says.

Lamai Jamieson checks the clothes rails at the Menphys shop

“Menphys are good people to work for,” says Lamai. Ruby reckons interacting with people in the Menphys shop is what makes it all so enjoyable.

The pair’s sunny smiles and friendly banter attract regular customers back to the shop time after time.

Go along any Thursday and watch Ruby, Jean Rice and Lamai share a joke with their regulars – people who come back week after week for the chat and the chance to pick up a bargain.

You never know, you might find not only a bargain buy, but decide you want to join our happy volunteers!